"My general feeling is that the AKSA, like most SS amps, really shines if the preamp is tube based."

Hi Hugh
Go wash your mouth out with hot soapy water !
Them's fighting words !
Most of us know of your soft spot for valve designs, and that AKSA 55 was designed to have a similar warmth to a good valve design.
Very many members would strongly disagree with your generalisation that most SS amps really shine if the preamp is tube based.
I heard the >AU$100,000 Ongaku valve amplifier at a Melbourne HI-FI show some years back , and it sounded very nice, with a very good soundstage when fed with a simple clasical diet. Then some wag in the audience slipped a Madonna CD recorded in Q sound into the CD player. It spat the dummy big time ! IMHO, The vast majority of valve designs do not like a lot happening at once, whether preamplifier or amplifier. I revisited a valve preamplifier a few years ago , in an effort to be more impartial with my strong views in another forum. It sounded great with DTV audio, but once again, did not perform nearly as well with complex music from CD.
Not all of us oldies need warm music to go with our hot milk and cookies just before bed time.
All in good fun, my friend !
Kind Regards
Alex

My B1 (symmetrical supply / no cap version) didn't match my AKSA 55N+ but worked extremely well with the NXV200 and a LM4780. I've found the AKSA tends to thrive with a pre with a low output impedance (<75R) and my B1 is a bit highish at 330R.

I remember you telling me that the Aksa would begin to sound muddled on more complex music, which is pretty much what Alex has just said about valve amps. It concerns me because most of the music I listen to is not solo stuff.

On modern cd pop recordings, how well would you say the aksa performs compared with simple vocal or solo recordings?

I remember you telling me that the Aksa would begin to sound muddled on more complex music, which is pretty much what Alex has just said about valve amps. It concerns me because most of the music I listen to is not solo stuff.

On modern cd pop recordings, how well would you say the aksa performs compared with simple vocal or solo recordings?

Professor smith
I have heard the AKSA55 in comparison with a Class A SS, and a fairly similar sounding 100W Class AB SS, in combination with an expensive Krell preamp, as well as a Class A preamp from 'vhfman".
It certainly didn't sound muddled on more complex music. On the day I felt that it didn't have as good a soundstage as the other highly "blueprinted" DIY amps, but it was certainly a good performer. It has to be remembered that Hugh has long since surpassed the SQ of the AKSA 55, which was in it's day, and still is, a very good amplifier. Certainly MUCH better than other DIY designs based around Hugh's implementation.